Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BOBBY MOORE FUND INTERNATIONAL
Manchester City, the team that signed him, should be very pleased with Palmeiras and the coaches there who formed a player who is already at such a good level.
“He came to England with a natural fluency. I’ve already mentioned the mental capacity he has and his technical ability. He didn’t need much time to adapt, he was already at a very good level.”
There are other talents behind that fearsome Brazilian front-line. Since his move to Barcelona from Guangzhou Evergrande, Paulinho has been unrecognisable from the midfielder who flopped at Tottenham.
Renato Augusto might now be plying his trade away from the limelight in China but he is still seen as the glue that holds the Brazil side together.
In defence Real Madrid’s Marcelo (left, after scoring against Japan) and Alves should play on either side of Inter Milan’s Miranda and PSG’S Marquinhos.
In goal, Manchester City’s £35million keeper Ederson continues to pressure Roma’s Alisson Becker.
The bench will be particularly instructive in terms of Brazil’s quality. Thiago Silva, Filipe Luis, Chelsea’s Willian and City’s Fernandinho are among those unable to get into the starting line-up.
Tite has a clear plan and the men to execute it. The optimism surrounding the Three Lions is in for quite a test this evening.